Best Kept Secrets(153)
cleared it away. "Seen yourself in a mirror lately? You look
like hell. Several times I've braced myself to catch you, afraid
you were about to keel over."
"I'm fine. If you'll just take me back to the motel, I'll--"
"Uh-uh," he said, shaking his head. "You're staying here
tonight, where you can get some sleep without being pestered
by reporters."
"Do you really think I would be?"
"A judge's death is hot news. A judge's suicide is even
hotter. You were the last person to talk to him. You're conducting
an investigation that has the racing commission worried.
Yeah, I think the press will be tramping down the bushes
around the Westerner to get to you."
"I'd be okay if I locked myself in my room."
"I'm not taking any chances. As I've told you before, I
don't want one of Harper's pets to get herself killed in my
county. You've generated enough negative publicity for us
these last few weeks; we sure as hell can't stand any more.
Does your head hurt?''
She had rested her head in her hand and was subconsciously
massaging her temples. "Yes, a little."
"Take some medicine."
"I don't have it with me."
"I'll see if I can round up something for your pain."
He circled the back of her chair and scooted it away from
the table. As she stood up, she said, "You keep a stash of
drugs, too? That's against the law, you know."
"Is that all you ever think about--the law? Whether something
is right or wrong? Is the line between them so clearly
defined for you?"
"Isn't it for you?"
"If it had been, I'd have gone hungry lots of times. I stole
food to feed myself and my old man. Was that wrong?"
"I don't know, Reede," she said wearily.
Her head hurt from-trying to keep up with their argument.
She trailed him down the hallway, not really realizing where
he was headed until he switched on the light in his bedroom.
Her face must have registered alarm because he grinned
sardonically and said, "Don't worry. I'm not trying to seduce
you. I'll sleep on the sofa in the living room."
"I really shouldn't stay here, Reede."
"We could both be grown up about this ... if you were
a grown-up to start with."
Not in the least amused, she lashed out at him. "There are
a million reasons why I shouldn't spend the night here. Number
one on the list is that I should be questioning Angus right
now."
"Give him one more night of grace. What could it hurt?"
"Pat Chastain will probably expect to hear from me."
"I told him you were near collapse and that you would
contact him in the morning."
"You planned ahead, I see."
"I wasn't taking any chances. When allowed to roam free,
you're dangerous."
She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment.
Too proud to capitulate, but too exhausted not to, she
compromised. "Just answer one question."
"Shoot."
"May I use your shower?"
Fifteen minutes later, she turned off the taps and reached
for a towel hanging on the bar. He had loaned her a pair of
pajamas to put on. They looked brand new.
When she had commented on it, he said, "Junior brought
them to me in the hospital when I had my appendix taken
out several years ago. I only wore them so I could get out
of that ass-baring gown. Can't stand the things."
Smiling at the distasteful face he'd made when he'd said
that, she slid her arms into the blue silk top and buttoned up
the front. Just then he tapped on the bathroom door. "I found
some pain pills."
Well covered to midthigh, she opened the door. He handed
her the prescription bottle. "This is strong stuff," she remarked,
reading the label. "You must have been in severe
pain. The appendectomy?"
He shook his head. "Root canal. Feeling better?"
"The shower helped. My head's not hurting so bad anymore."
"You washed your hair."
' 'Against doctor's orders. I wasn't supposed to for a week,
but I couldn't stand it any longer."
"Better let me take a look at your stitches."
She tipped her head forward and he gently parted her hair.
His fingers were light and deft. The most pressure she felt
was his breath against her scalp.
"Everything looks all right."
"I washed around it."
Reede stepped away, but continued to look at her. She
looked back. They stayed that way for a very long, silent
time. Eventually, in a low, rough voice, Reede said, "Better
take your pill."